Improvement in treating hides and manufacturing leather



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

WILLIAM H. FULLER, OF BROUKPORT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND GILBERT J.KINGSBURY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREATING HIDES AND MANUFACTURING LEATHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 110,562, dated December27, 1870.

I, WILLIAll/I H. FULLER, of Brockport, 1n the county of Monroe and Stateof New York, have invented a certain Improvement in Treatin g Hides, ofwhich the following is a specification:

My invention consists in tanning and stuffing hides and skins by meansof hydrocarbons and boiled linseed or other heavy oils.

It is well known that the ordinary process of tanning hides, by soakingin solutions of tannic acid, is slow and expensive, while the action ofthe acid is liable to injure the texture of the skin unless the processis very carefully conducted. By my improved method of treatment I avoidthese difficulties, and also produce a better quality of leather.

The hides or skins may be prepared for tanning in the same manner as isusual for the old process of steeping in bark-leaches. Instead, however,of subjecting them to the slow action of the bark infusions, I simplydip them or soak them for a short time innaphtha, gasoline,kerosene, orother hydrocarbon mixed with boiled linseed or other heavy oil, in aboutthe proportion of eight parts of the former to one of the latter. Theyare then stretched on suitable frames and dried, after which they areready for coloring and finishing.

The object of mixing the oils is to tan and stuff the skins at oneoperation, though the same result may be obtained by using the two oilsseparately, which, of course, would require two manipulations of theskins instead of one. When used together the heavy oil prevents the toorapid evaporation of the hydrocarbon, and at the same time is carriedinto the skin by the latter, while it would otherwise have to be rubbedor worked in in a fullingtnn, or by other means.

I have observed that the lighter gravities of hydrocarbons produce thebest effect, and also the most expeditiously.

This treatment produces a superior quality of leather, both in strengthand appearance; and in the case of sheep-skins they cannot be splitapart into strata, or the surface roughened, as is usual when tanned andstuffed by any of the ordinary processes. A sheep-skin treated under mymethod is equal to the best calf or horse hide as usually prepared forlace-strings for machinery-belting, while its cost is but a merefraction of these latter.

A soft, pliable, strong leather for all purposes is obtained by thismethod, pronounced by good judges to be far superior to any other, sincethe life of the hides is perfectlyretained, instead of being destroyedby acids or chemicals, while at the same time itis rendered almostimpervious to water, and possesses a smooth, parchment-like appearance,not found in ordinary leather.

Owing to an apparent affinity between hydrocarbons and green skins,their conversion into leather by the application of the former is Veryrapid, and without any detrimental effect upon the product. In fact, farbetter results are obtained than by any of the ordinary methods or meansof tanning. This treatment is also very valuable for preparing ortanning skins with the hair or wool on, since they may be immersed inthe liquid with scarcely any previous preparation, and without theslightest injury to the fur or wool, the effect really being to set thehair permanently and to cleanse it from impurities.

The tanning might be effected by simply applying the liquid to the fleshside of the skins, which would perhaps be desirable for delicate furs,850.

The usual processes of removing the hairsandpaperin g, scraping,coloring, and finishin g--may be practiced in connection with thistreatment, and the whole will consume but a fraction of the timerequired for the single operation of tanning by the ordinary methods.

The utility and economy of my invention must appear obvious.

What I claim as my invention is- The method of tanning and stuffinghides and skins by means of the light and heavy oils herein mentioned,substantially in the manner set forth.

W. H. FULLER. TVit-nesses:

F. H. CLEMENT, GEO. T. PARKER.

